Automatic musical instrument.



J. C. DEHLS.

AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT. APPLlc/Ilo FILED DEc.12, 191s.

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J. C. DEHLS.

AUTOMAUC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-12,1913.

1 ,208,755. Patented De. 19, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. A

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN C. DEHLS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL PNEUMATICACTION CO., INC., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Application filed December 12, 1913.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, JOHN C. DEHLS, a citizenof the United States, and a resident of Brooklyn, in the county of Kingsand State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Automatic Musical Instruments, of which the following is aspecification.

The invention pertains more particularly to accenting devices with theuse of which a note or notes played on an automatic musical instrumenthaving a traveling perforated music sheet may be accented during thetravel of the sheet.

My invention contemplates the automatic accenting of the notes duringthe travel of the perforated sheet from one spool to another, and incarrying out my invention I provide in connection with the pneumaticmechanism a pivoted or hinged bar or frame made hollow in its endportions so as to communicate with the pneumatic features of the pianoand extending transversely across the outer face of the music sheet andpressing the latter lightly against the tracker bar, said pivoted orhinged frame having in its hollow end portions perforations in line withthe accenting perforations in the music sheet, and the tracker bar atits end portions having openings which become uncovered as the accentingperforations in the sheet pass by them and when so uncovered admitatmospheric air to the interior of said pivoted or hinged frame totravel through special mechanism to the main bellows chest for accentingthe notes created at the same time by the perforations in the musicsheet passing over the regular perforations in the trackerbar.

The invention will be fully understood from the detailed descriptionhereinafter presented, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly in section and partly broken away,of a piano player embodying the features of my invention, the partsbeing shown in the normal position they occupy during the playing ofsoft music; Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section on the dotted line 22 of Fig. 1, through the music-box of the piano player; Fig. 3 is an endview of the same taken from the right hand end of Fig. l; Fig. 4 is adetached front elevation of a portion of the tracker-bar, and Fig. 5 isa detached rear Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 19, 1916.

Serial No. 806,138.

view, partly broken away and partly in section, of the pivoted or hingedframe which during the employment of the invention engages the travelingsheet along the longitudinal center line of the tracker-bar, Fig. 5being presented to show the openings in the rear side of the endportions of said frame and also the means by which communication betweenthe end portions of said frame is prevented.

In the drawings, 10 designates a customary form of roll box adapted tosupport a tracker-bar 11, a music spool 12 and a takeup spool 13 toreceive a music sheet 14 as unwound from the spool 12 and to permit therewinding of said sheet on said spool 12 when the latter is to beremoved from the frame or box 10. The means for rotating the spools 12,13 are well known in the art and have not therefore been illustrated, myinvention not pertaining to the shifting gears or other like parts of apiano player. The spool 12 has a socket at one end to receive the usualspring pressed spindle 15, and at its otherl end said spool isdetachably keyed to the inner end of a spindle 16 mounted in a bearing17 in the vertical side of the box or frame 10. The tracker-bar 11 ismounted between the sides of the box 10 and is of ordinary character,except, in this instance, I provide near each end thereof an opening 18which constitutes a part of the accenting features of the invention,said openings 18 extending transversely through said bar and beingpermanently open at their inner ends and premanently closed at theirouter ends by the music sheet 14, except when the special accentingperforations 19 along the edges of said sheet pass into register withsaid openings 18. There is an opening 18 near each end of the trackerbar 11 and a series of the accenting perforations 19 in the music sheetadjacent to each edge of the latter for passing into register with saidopenings 18 from time to time as occasion may require, the perforations19 in the sheet being in horizontal alinement with the regularperforations in the sheet represent ing notes to be accented on reachingthe tracker bar.

Between the sides of the roll box 10 and journaled in said sides so asto be capable of a hinged movement, I mount a frame (numbered as a whole20) composed of two side members 21, 22 and a horizontal member 23connected with said side members and carried thereby, said member 23being adapted to engage the music sheet 14 in line with the openings inthe tracker bar and lightly, but firmly, press said sheet against theface of said bar. The side members 21, 22 of the frame 2O are hollow andhave rectangular portions at their lower ends extending through bearingsinthe sides of the box 10 and respectively connected with conduits 2li,25 to be hereinafter referred to, said conduits being1 flexible so thatthe frame may be conveniently turned upwardly against the travelingsheet let, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or downwardly therefrom, as may bedesired. The frame 2O constitutes one of the importantfeatures of myinvention, although the invention is not limited to the specific form offrame shown. rlhe horizontal member 23 of the frame 20 is provided onits rear face in close proximity to the edges of the travcling sheet 1iwith small apertures or air inlet openings 2G, 27, which when saidmember 23 is in its upper position are in line with the openings 13 inthe tracker bar 11 and in the vertical plane of the accenting openings19 in the music sheet 14. rlhe openings 2G, 27 in the member 23 of theframe :20 are closed from communication with the openings 18 in thetracker bar 11 by the music sheet ist, except when the openings 19 insaid sheet pass into register with said openings 2G, 27, and at thattime there is a clear passage for atmospheric air through the openings1S in the tracker bar, perforations 19 in the sheet and apertures "26,27 in the aforesaid member 23, the air being thus permitted to entersaid member and travel downwardly through the side members 21, 22 of theframe 2O and into the conduits 24, 25, whence the air passes to theother portions of the mechanism, as will be explained hereinafter. Aperforation. 19 at each end of the sheet may at the same time pass intolregister with the openings 1S in the tracker bar and the apertures 26,27 in the frame 20, and under such circumstances the bass and treblenotes may both be accented, but since the member 23 of the frame 2O hasits side members Q1, Q9 partitioned off from each other, either anaccenting perforation 19 for the bass or an accenting perforation 19 forthe treble may pass into register with one of the openings 13 in thetracker bar and one of the openings in the frame 20, and under suchcircumstances the atmospheric air would flow only through one side ofthe frame E20 and only the one note, either bass or treble, as the casemight be, will be accented.

The turn-buckle or nut 29 connecting the two members of the frame 20permits of the lateral adjustment of said members from or toward eachother for the purpose of adj listing the same and the openings 2G, 27therein with relation to the openings 18 in the tracker-oar andperforations 19 in the music sheet. The two side members or sections ofthe frame 20, while hollow, are separated from each other, so far as aircommunication is concerned, by means of internal plugs 2S (Fig. 5) aswell as by the turn-luidde or nut 29, it being the intention that eachend portion of said frame shall act independently of the other ineiecting the accenting. l provide the frame 20 with a spring 30 whichmay serve to press the upper portion or member 23 of said frame againstthe traveling sheet let at the horizontal center line of the tracker-bar11, said spring 30 also, when the frame 2O is turned outwardly anddownwardly from its operative position shown in Fig. 2, actingto heldsaid frame in its then lower position. rifhe frame 2O will be held inits upper position during the travel of the music sheet le., and may beturned to its lower position when it is desired to rewind said sheetupon the spool 1Qv and place a further music sheet within the box 10.

rlhe frame 20 may be moved to its operative and inoperative positions byhand, but in the present instance l have providedV a pneumatic 31 bymeans of which said frame 20 may be moved automatically, said pneumatic31 having at its hinged side an arm pivotally connected with a rack-barin mesh with a gear wheel 34k secured on a horizontal member of theframe 20. ln Fig. 3 l illustrate the rack bar 33 and gear wheel 3i ashaving been operated rearwardly by the vacuum in the pneumatic 31 toturn the frame 20 to its operative position, and by the arrow shown inFig. 3 I indicate the movement that the gear wheel 34E will have whenatmospheric air is admitted to the pneumatic 31 and the latter opens tomove the rack bar 33 forwardly for the purpose of turning the frame 20forwardly and downwardly from the traveling sheet 11i. l may employ thepneumatic 31, arm 32, rackbar 33 and gear wheel 3-1: for effecting theautomatic movement of the frame 20, and in such employment the spring 30is also an advantage in that it assures a uniform engagemcnt of theteeth of the gear w ieel 3iwith the teeth of the rack bar 33 and an evenuniform movement of the frame 2O without undue freedom of the movingparts which might cause a rattling noise or be otherwise objectionable.1While I prefer to employ automatic means for moving' the frame 2O fromone to the other of its two positions, it is perfectly obvious that saidframe may be operated by the hand and that under such condition thespring 30 is useful in binding the frame 20 in each of said positions.rl`he hinged or movable side of the pneumatic 31 is connected with aspring 35 whose normal tendency is to move said side to its openposition and cause the rack bar 33 to turn the frame 20 to its lower orinoperative position. A tube 36 communicates with the interior of thepneumatic 31.

In the construction of the instrument care should be taken to see thatthe horizontal member 23 of the frame 20 does not interfere, when in itsoperative position, with the entrance of air into the ordinary trackerbar ducts to operate the music Pneumatics. rrlhe member 23 beingcircular in cross-section has only a line contact with the travelingperforated sheet, and hence will not stop the passage of air into theordinary tracker bar ducts unless said member is of undue diameter orsaid ducts of very small diameter. The entrances to the ducts and thediameter of the member 23 should be such that said member when in itsoperative position will not prevent the entrance of air into said ducts.

In the operation of a musical instrument employing my invention, vacuumis created in the player action to permit the player to work, as inplaying, as usual; and this vacuum acts through the tube 36 to close orcollapse the pneumatic 31 in opposition to the force of the spring 35and effect, through the rack bar 33, the movement of the frame 20 to itsoperative position. On re-rolling the music sheet on the instrument,vacuum communication is cut off from the action, as customary in allusual players, and this will have the effect of cutting off the vacuumfrom the pneumatic 31 and permitting the spring 35 to, through thehinged side of the pneumatic, arm 32, rack bar 33, and gear Wheel 34,move the frame 2O to its lower or inoperative position.

In the drawings, 37 denotes the usual main bellows chest within whichthe requisite vacuum is created. 38 the usual pumps, and 39 the actionchest, which is subdivided into chambers 40, 41 by means of a centralpartition 42. Upon the bellows chest 37 are, at each end thereof, anauxiliary chest 43 separated into two divisions by a partition 44, onedivision 45 being in communication through a port 46 With the saidbellows chest and through a port 47 with a pneumatic or bellows 48, saidport 47 being in one wall of the bellows and the other or hinged wall ofthe bellows having a pad 49 by which the port 47 may be partly orcompletely closed. The chamber 50 of the chest 43 is in communicationwith the pneumatic or bellows 48 by means of a port 51, and with ythebellows chest, at the proper time, through a port 52. The upper orhinged side of the bellows 48 is connected with a regulating or controlspring 53. A valve 54 controls the port 52 and said Valve has a stemconnected with a flexible diaphragm 55,

which is secured at its edges upon the upper edges of a boX or chest 56which has a vent or bleed communication with the interior of the bellowschest 37, the purpose of which is to secure the balancing of thediaphragm When the diaphragm is dished downwardly, the valve 54 willclose the port 52 and when the diaphragm is dished upwardly, the valve54 will uncover the port 52, Whichis of greater diameter than the port46. A conduit 58 leads from the chamber 40 of the action chest 39 to thechamber 50 of one chest 43 and a corresponding conduit 59 leads to thechamber 45 of the other chest 43. Both chests 43 are alike and at eachend of the main bellows chest 37 are the ports 46, 52, valve 54,diaphragm 55, box or chest 56 and vent or bleed 57. A conduit 60 leadswithin the chest 56 and below the diaphragm 55 at one end of the bellowschest 37 and a corresponding conduit 61 leads to the similar chest atthe other end of the said bellows chest 37.

The conduits 24, 25 leading from the frame 20 and the conduits 60, 61leading to the chests 56 inclosed within the bellows chest 37 areemployed at their adjoining ends in connection with a stationary valvepart 62 and a slidable valve part 63, the end portions of said valveparts having coperating ports so arranged that the conduits 24, 60 maybe placed in communcation with each other and conduits 25, 61 may beplaced in communciation with each other, as will be understood from thefollowing'description.

The slidable valve part 63 may be moved to the left or right by means ofa stem 64 and is held up against the stationary valve part 62 by meansof springs 65 which are on screws 66 extending through slots in saidmovable part 63 and serving as guides and stops for the same. Thestationary valve part 62 has ports 67 which are in direct communicationwith the conduits 60, 61, and also ports 68 which are in directcommunication with the conduits 24, 25. The slidable valve part 63 hasports 69 and, on its upper side close against the stationary part 62,recesses or ports 70, and these ports 70 when the accenting mechanism isarranged for operation, connect the ports 68 and 67 so thatcommunication is established from the conduits 24, 25 through the ports68 and recesses 70 with the ports 67 which are in direct communicationwith the conduits 60, 61 leading into the boxes or chests 56 supportingthe diaphragms 55, and it' is this condition of the aforesaid ports thatI illustratey in Fig. 1. Vhen the accenting mechanism is not to be used,the slidable valve part 63 will, by means of the stem 64, be moved tothe left, looking at Fig. 1, and this will have the effect of connectingthe ports 67 with the ports 69 which are open to the atmosphere andcutting off communication through the recesses 7() between the ports G8and pors 67. life may consider that the slidable valve part 63 is in theoperative position shown for permitting the use of the accentin gmechanism, and the description ott the operation may be confined to saythe bass side oi the player, since that side is shown in section andalso because the two sides of the player, while operating independentlyso tar as the accenting is concerned, correspond exactly in constructionand operation. During the soft playing or when notes are not to beaccented, the parts will be in the relative positions in which they arerepresented in Fig. 1, but when one of the accenting perforations 19 inthe music sheet passes into register with the opening 18 in thetracker-bar, and the opening 2G in the frame 20, atmospheric air passesthrough the said opening 26 and will pass through said iframe to theconduit 24 and then through the ports ($8, 70, 67 to the conduit 60, andthence to the lower side of the diaphragm 5.3 and result in the upwardbulging of said diaphragm and the raising of the valve 541 from the port52, at' which time the exhaust in the bellows chest 37 will act throughsaid port 52, it being ot greater dimensions than the port 11G, andthrough the port 51 to close the valve 49 and through the conduit 5S onthe action chest 39, with the result of the exhaust acting more stronglyat that moment on the note being played and accenting said note. Themoment the perforation 19 in the music sheet, employed in accenting,passes the opening 18 in the tracker-bar, said opening 18 becomes closedat its iront end, atmospheric air is cut off from the conduits 2:1-, GO,and the valve 5st reseats upon the port 52 and then the exhaust actiontrom the main bellows chest 87 is through the port 4G, chamber 41:5,port 117, bellows 48, port 51 and chamber on the conduit 5S and chamber'40 of 4the action chest 39.

Vf hat l claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters-Patent,is:

1. ln a musical instrument of the class described comprising a travelingmusic sheet having accenting perforations, a trackerbar having anopening in position to register with said accenting perforations, anaction chest, a main exhaust chest whose exhaust action on the actionchest is modiiied to eiifect the accenting, and accenting mechanism forcooperative action with said music sheet and tracker bar and includingcontrolling devices interposed between the tracker bar and said mainexhaust chest and comprising a hollow iframe movable toward and fromsaid sheet at the tracker-bar and having an opening in its rear face inposition to register with the accenting perforations and to be openedthereby when said perforations, one after another, pass into registertherewith and with the opening in the trackerbar, and a conduit for thepassage of air at atmospheric pressure leading from said frame to thepneumatic mechanism.

2. ln a musical instrument of the class described comprising a travelingmusic sheet having accenting pertorations, a trackerbar having openingsin position to register with said accenting perforations, an actionchest, a main exhaust chest whose exhaust action on the action chest ismodified to ef- :tect the accenting, and accenti-ng mechanism forcooperative action with said music sheet and tracker bar and includingcontrolling devices interposed between the tracker-bar and said mainexhaust chest and comprising a hollow frame movable toward and from saidsheet at the tracker-bar and having independent air ducts in itsopposite end portions and in the rear face of said portions openings inposition to register with the accenting perforations and to be openedthereby when said perforations, one after another, pass into registertherewith and with the openings in the tracker bar, and independentconduits for the passage of air at atmospheric pressure leading from theend portions of said frame to the pneumatic mechanism.

3. In a musical instrument of the class described comprising a travelingmusic sheet having accenting perforations, a trackerbar having openingsin posit-ion to register with said accenting perforations, an actionchest, a main exhaust chest whose exhaust action on the action chest ismodified to eliect the accenting, and accenting mechanism forcooperative action with said music sheet and tracker-bar and includingcontrolling devices interposed between the tracken bar and said mainexhaust chest and comprising a hollow frame movable toward and from saidsheet at the tracker-bar and having independent air chiots in itsopposite end portions and in the rear face of said por tions openings inposition to register with the accenting perforations and to be openedthereby when said perforations, one after another, pass into registertherewith and with the openings in the tracker bar, and independentconduits iior the passage of air at atmospheric pressure leading fromthe end portions of said fra-me to the pneumatic mechanism, said framehaving means for adjusting its length to meet the requirements of' thesheet and tracker bar.

el. In a musical instrument of the class described comprising atraveling music sheet having accenting perfor-ations, a trackerbarhaving openings in position to register with said accentingperforations, an action chest, a main exhaust chest whose exhaust actionon the action chest is modified to eiiect the accenting, and accentingmechanism for cooperative action with said music sheet and tracker barand including controlling devices interposed between the tracker bar andsaid main exhaust chest and comprising a hollow frame movable toward andfrom said sheet at the tracker-bar and having independent air ducts inits opposite end portions and in the rear face of said portions openingsin position to register with the accenting perforations and to be openedthereby when said perforations, one after ana main exhaust chest Whoseexhaust action on the action chest is modified to eHect the accenting,and accenting mechanism for cooperative action With said music sheet andtracker bar and including controlling devices interposed between'thetracker bar and said main exhaust chest and comprising a swiveled framehaving side members and a connecting member extending When the frame isin operative position across said sheet along the tracker bar and saidframe having openings in its rear face in position to register with theaccenting perforations and to be opened thereby when said perforations,one after another, pass into register therewith and with the openings inthe tracker bar, and independent conduits for the passage of air atatmospheric pressure leading from the end portions of said frame to thepneumatic mechanism.

Signed at New York city in the county of New York andState of New York,this 9th day of December, A. D. 1913.

JOHN C. DEHLS. fitnessesz ARTHUR MARION,

CHAs. C. GILL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Yatents,

' Washington, D. C.

